Further studies on reductive metabolism of acetohexamide in heart.

Species and sex differences of acetohexamide reductase activity were investigated using the cytosolic fraction of heart homogenate. The activity in the rabbit was considerably higher than that in the other species (guinea pig, hamster, rat and mouse). No sex difference of the activity was observed in any of the species tested. Ketone-containing drugs (daunorubicin, befunolol and levobunolol) other than acetohexamide were little reduced in the cytosol of rabbit heart. Some aldehyde reductase inhibitors (phenobarbital, valproate and chlorothiazide) were found to decrease the acetohexamide reductase activity in the cytosol of rabbit heart.